New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-18
MAX. THE LITTLE HERO.

MAX. THE LITTLE HERO.
Translated from the German for the Spring.
field Republican.
It was a sad-looking village in which
little Max lived with his parents. For
days and days people had been wan
.dering forth from their houses across
the fields into the woods. They drove
their COWS and sheep and goats before
them; on little hand-carts they drew
household goods,-spinning- wheels,
tools, clothes and bedding. The men
had anxious, careworn and angry
faces; the women carried the children
and cried and sobbed.
Max stood with his father in the
door OF their house and looked after
such a procession which had just pass.
ed.
seCome with u.s." said peasant who
came last because he led a. stubborn
pig with rope. Come with us. II
the enemy enters the village he will
burn the house over your heads
that's what you'll get. In a few
hours the devils will be here, and
then you will hardly be able to
save your naked life,-which after all
is left to us poor, chased people,"
81 cannot leave" said Max's father.
<tI have a sick child, and cannot drag
it into the forest to be exposed to the
night air which would kill it,"
<aThen let at least the boy come
with me" said the peasant. *tHe is
only in your way if it comes to the
worst"
*tDo you think so?' said the father
ehoughtfully. "Better cared for he
certainly would be. And if the worst
happens, one of us at least would be
saved. You would take care OF him
and protect him. Heisa child still -
ono, father, that I am not" cried
che twelve year-old boy, who had
listened with wide-open eyes and
{ serious face to the conversation of the
men. II am no child, and am not
afraid, and will stay with you and
mother and Anna. If you do not
Weave, l also need not run away. ]
stay with you, father" he added half
begging, half assured, and stepped up
close to his father, looking into his
6ace with loving eyes.
Thus Max remained in the village.
One family after another left, until
the houses and streets were deserted
and no one lived in the village but the
two children Max and Anna, with
their parents. In the afternoon Max
went to the neighbors' houses and
looked in at the windows and over
! che fences and saw how the wind
played with the straw blades in the
yards. There was no sound to be
heard, it was as If every one was dead
and buried. The old nut trees rustled
gently in the wind and then all was
quiet again.
Chow strange that people are afraid
s-5f each other in war time" said Max
ITO himself. GAS if the soldiers had no
parents, no homes, and would set
other peoples houses on fire just out
of sheer ugliness, as our neighbours
said. Such soldiers must not be the
aIght kind of men-who knows where
they came from?"
lie went to ask his father to give
him some information about it, but
his father had no time, for he went
twice an hour up on the hill behind
the cemetery and looked down into
she valley.
Max" he said in the evening, when
she mother had sent the boy to bed,
tttry to fall soon asleep, for to-mor-
cow we must be up early
Max crept under his blanket and
was soon asleep. His mother looked
after little Anna, who was asleep too
then she set the oll-lamps in the cor
ner Of the room on a chair, over the
back Of which she hung q shawl, sc
that the light should not disturb the
e5tnhdren in their sleep, then she gently
CLOSED the door and went into thu
next room to her husband.
For a moment she pressed botl
hands before her face s
3eWhat is it?" cried he, putin!
down his pipe and grasping the arm Q
his WIFE,
My Heart feels so heavy" she said
GIio alOpEOSt uC1 uStuI1S.
is Anna worse? he asked anx
Iously. 4. Sd.
4.No, thank God" answered she
but the worry, the anxiety! Nov
ave are all alone in the village, quit
alone. Listen only, how quiet it is
neither man nor animal moves, no
even the clock in the tower strike
any longer. 1t is like a gravel
1eTo morrow am afraid twill b
LOUDER" said the father. 'sTowar.
evening I saw something glistenins
and glittering at the edge Of the forest
e do not know whether they are on
soldiers or the enemys; to-morro,
we will know more about them with
out need to ask. But on the Who'll
you must not be SO down hearted; es
peclally not before the children
Everything may end well. Sleep now
npd I will stand or ard for. vS,1 -